Frostbite
(based on an incident in a port of entry almost ten years ago)

I felt my first frostbite
one balmy day in September 1996
in a cramped port of entry
in Minneapolis... and I shed tears!

The hawk-eyed, eagle-nosed inspector
leafed through my pocketbook,
scrutinized every crease and fold that held
the lifeline to a strange new land.

With a cynical smile from the
curling bemustached mouth,
the iron-hand of power
pricked where it hurt most!

Not for a moment did he read
the confused emotions,
the frightened look.

Not for a second did he feel compassion!
All that he imagined was a nod of triumph,
A vulture over a prey!
Oh! I shivered at that first frostbite
that one balmy day in September!